Center solely responsible for Fertiliser crisis: BSY

Bangalore, Jun 11: Congress led United Progressive Alliance (UPA) government at the Center should be blamed for the acute shortage in the supply of fertiliser for which Farmers in Karnataka were agitating, Chief Minister B S Yeddyurappa said today.

Addressing newspersons after holding a meeting of the high-level officials following yesterday's police firing in which one farmer was killed and another 13 were injured in violence, Mr Yeddyurappa reiterated his charge that some vested interest have hatched a conspiracy against his government to sully its image. "Some political forces joining hands with anti-social elements have conspired to ignite violence in all districts in the name of farmers using shortage of fertiliser as an instrument" Mr Yeddyurappa said.

Expressing shock over yesterday's incident, the Chief Minister warned stern action against the anti-social elements who are responsible for the violence.

Describing his government as the 'farmers-friendly' he said that he had instructed the police officials not to resort to firing against farmers at any provocation or any kind of volatile situation and deal with the situation with calm and unruffled manner.

Saying that his government want to maintain cordial relationship with the Centre, Mr Yeddyurappa said that the response from UPA government was not encouraging. He said that he had written a letter to Prime Minister on the crisis of fertiliser. Mr Yeddyurappa alleged that apathy on the part of officials right from Village Accountant level to secretariat in visualising the farmers requirement and meet their demand on fertiliser led to present crisis.

He said that in June 2007 the stock of DPA and Complex, two chemical fertiliser products was 74000 tonnes and 53000 respectively while the stock is only 9400 and 3821 tonnes in 2008. Mr Yeddyurappa said that he dose not want to mix politics with the present crisis and announced that he is going to convene a meeting of all political party leaders and also farmers organistions to find solution for the problem shortly.

Referring to criticism by JD(S) and Congress on yesterday's police firing, Mr Yeddyurappa opined that if proper actions were initiated during President's rule on Fertiliser requirement the present situation would not have arised. He also charged that the UPA government is trying to politicise the issue by not responding properly to the state's request on farmers demand.

Mr Yeddyurappa also announced that he is going to meet Prime Minister Manmohan Singh again today and try to convince the Center about the urgent need to supply fertiliser in time. He also appealed farmers not to became panic over the availability of fertiliser as state government is making all sincere efforts to find solution over the problem.

He said that state government is going to constitute a special task force against the hoarders of fertiliser and blackmarketers.

"Government will take stringent action against these forces" he said.

The state government has already announced a relief of Rs 2 lakh for the kins of the farmer killed in police firing and Rs 50,000 for seriously injured and Rs 25,000 for those who have sustained minor injuries.